Anne Rogalski, Fran McLaughlin
and Nicole Youngstrom

 Welcome New Challenge Walk MS Participants

Challenge Walk 2011 will be my fourth time experiencing the incredible beauty of Door County in the fall, as well as enjoying what I consider hours of very entertaining conversations with my two walking companions: my sister Nicole, who makes the trip every year from North Carolina; and Fran, a friend I made the first year of the walk, who also happens to have MS.

For those who have been involved with the walk in the past, you probably recognize the three of us as “the ones who skip lunch to beat their personal best.”  FYI: not only do we have photos to prove otherwise, we also typically gain 3-5 pounds over the course of the weekend … the meals and rest stop treats are irresistible! You would think walking 50 miles in three days would make up for the increased calories. We just keep telling ourselves it is “muscle weight.”

For the 30-plus people joining Challenge Walk MS for the first time this year: welcome! As an individual living with MS, I also want to say thank you for donating your time, energy and talent to bring us closer to finding a cure.

At times the task of raising $1,500 seems daunting. However, over the years I have accepted the fact that when I ask, the worst that can happen is the individual will say no. On the rare occasions that someone does turn my request down; they do so with regret, and then find a way to say yes the following year.

I officially kicked off my training yesterday at Walk Wisconsin, a non-competitive marathon in Stevens Point. My husband, a non-walker, and I agreed to split the difference; we walked 16 miles, ending at our front door. Typically I walk four miles a day, with increased mileage on the weekends. I should probably also mention that the weekends include a mandatory Starbucks “walk through” with my “Walking BFF” Marian.

Good luck to all! May the wind be at your back and the donations in your online thermometer!

Anne Rogalski

Unofficial start of summer

 

Jill Hassenfelt and
Amy Mangan-Fischer



Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer. People bring out their grills, start their summer yard work, and tell themselves that now that the weather is nice they're going to start exercising more. The last two years Memorial Day weekend has also been the beginning of "Challenge Walk Season" for me. It's time to buy a new pair of walking shoes, water bottle, and new sweat absorbent socks. It's time to write down the recommended mileage from the MS website in my calendar so I know how far I need to walk each day. It's time to start addressing my fundraising letter to my friends, family, and coworkers and it's time to start asking businesses for donations and if they'll participate in Team Marty and Clyde's pin-up program. Yes, it's officially Challenge Walk season.

This will be my third year participating in the MS Challenge Walk in Door County. I got involved because my best friend's dad has MS and she decided to start Team Marty and Clyde, in honor of Marty her dad and Clyde his cane. This year my sister, who lives in Alabama, will be flying up to participate for her first time. Laura decided to get involved after hearing just how inspiring the weekend is. There's something motivational about knowing that I'm walking, not just to lose weight and look better in those jeans, but that my walking is making a difference in the lives of people. Every time I open up my mailbox and see a check for the MS society, I get a rush. It's this amazing feeling that I have done something to improve the world.

So this summer, I encourage everyone to get outside walking (or inside.. treadmills work too) and start preparing for this year's MS Challenge Walk. I must warn you though, it's addicting.

Amy Mangan-Fischer
Member of Team Marty and Clyde

Challenge Walk Can be a Path to Friendships

Hello MS Challenge Walkers,

It truly is a small world.

My wife, Jenny, and I attended a graduation party this weekend where we unexpectedly ran into a couple we met at the first Wisconsin Challenge Walk in 2008. The same couple also walked in 2009. Both Challenge Walks were highlighted by conversations with this couple that stretched over several miles. It turns out they are good friends with my aunt, who was hosting the party. We had a great time at the party reconnecting and swapping “war stories” about our Challenge Walk experiences.

There is clearly a social aspect to the Challenge Walk which frankly caught us completely by surprise during our first year. The walkers and volunteers seem to morph into a community over 2.5 days, dedicated to a common goal and connected by a common struggle. There is a lot of time to kill over 50 miles, so plan on striking up a conversation or two. It is a great way to pass the time and meet new friends.

Hopefully everyone is in full-on training mode and having success in their fund raising efforts. We often struggle to stay motivated to train, especially with all the other summer activities. We find it helpful to recall how we felt for miles 18 through 20 of the walk on Friday and Saturday of last year’s walk. The more effort we put in now, the easier those miles will be this go-round.

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Two time walker - walking words of wisdom from Jill

Summer 2008. It was my first summer training for Challenge Walk MS. On one especially hot Saturday in June the training plan said to walk 8 miles. So I headed out to walk 8 miles.

At the end of mile 7, I thought I would never make it home. I sat down on a patch of grass on the side of the road and wasn’t sure if I’d be able to get up. Ever. I set out to walk 8 miles, but I brought nothing with me. I had no choice but to get up and walk home, and I did, but I never did a training walk empty handed again.

Here’s what I take with me now on my walks.

Water – Essential! Even for short walks. I like having something to carry, but there are bottles that you can loop onto your belt or even carry in your belt. I constantly have to remind myself to drink even if I’m not thirsty.

Munchies – You burn 100 calories for every mile you walk. Bodies need fuel for energy. I like to fill little Ziploc bags with cheerios or pretzels. Last year I got hooked on bite-sized pieces of cinnamon bread. Trail mix or granola bars are good too. (And most likely better for you than cinnamon bread!)

Sunscreen – Being outside for a long walk will likely require a reapplication. I carry a travel-size container in a Ziploc bag

Tissue – Even if you don’t have allergies.

Cash – Not a lot. But if you pass a gas station or fast food restaurant, a cold bottle of water or a fresh snack can be heavenly. I also take my credit card just in case I get in trouble and need to cab it home. (I have never done it, but I like having the option.)

Cell phone – Just in case.

Identification – Again. Just in case

A walking partner – Walking with someone makes training walks go by a lot quicker. And usually much more entertaining.

iPod/mp3 player - If I am walking alone, I don’t leave home without this. A good song can give you a great boost of energy. I also download books or podcacsts (free!) for the especially long walks. Safety is always a concern so I make sure I can still hear what’s going on around me.

I put all of this stuff (except the walking partner) either in my pockets or a super lightweight backpack. Nothing is so heavy that it makes it more difficult to walk.

Thankfully, I only have to worry about all of this during training walks. One of the many great things about the Challenge Walk MS event is how well the staff and volunteers take care of the walkers along the way. Every three miles there are rest stations with cold water, snacks, and volunteers with so much energy you can’t help but catch some. In between those rest stations, volunteers in support vehicles check in with walkers to make sure everyone is doing ok. And of course there are fellow walkers to count on for encouragement. The level of support is fantastic. I only wish the staff and volunteers could be on all of my training walks too!

Jill Hassenfelt will be participating in her third Challenge Walk MS in September. Check out her blog at http://steppingoverms.wordpress.com/

Greetings Challenge Walkers! The weather around Port Washington has been more like early March than mid-May, with persistent cold winds off the lake. This kind of climate makes it difficult to keep motivated with our training regimen. Well, let’s be honest, we have not started said training regimen. We are starting the 18-week program in a few weeks … promise.

But we have not been exactly idle either. In late April we held the 3rd Annual We’re Egan to Cure MS Fund Raiser at TJ Middle School in Port Washington. More than 50 vendors and crafters participated. The event was a big success. Hopefully your fund raising efforts are off to a great start as well.

As we swing into the busy summer season, it may become more difficult to stay motivated with respect to training. It is safe to say that everyone who has accepted the Challenge has been affected or knows someone affected by MS. As we set about what can be tedious and time consuming road work, it might help to keep in mind the singular purpose in which we are all involved: to find a cure. Or as one gentleman at last year’s candlelight ceremony succinctly and tersely put it: the goal is to “find a cure for this god damn disease and put the MS Society out of business.” (Any chance this can become the new MS slogan?)


By Mike and Jenny Egan

Hello Challenge Walkers!

Spring has sprung, which means the flowers are blooming, the trees are budding and another season of MS Challenge Walk training is about to begin.

This month’s theme is training and recruitment. In terms of training, the last two years we have followed the 18-week program, with some minor tweaks. For example, we stuck to the 3 to 4 mile walks prescribed during the week, but we never walked more than 13 miles on the long weekend walks. This was mostly because babysitters are expensive! In addition, we found that the most important thing is consistency—no long gaps in training—vs. pounding out 15 or 20 mile training sessions.

The MS Society provides a 12 and 18 week program on their website. This year we have decided to follow a program that is between the 12 and 18 week program, with other exercise mixed in.

One great way to recruit new members is to bribe them with cash. If that does not work or is simply prohibitive from a budgetary standpoint, you can always tell them your plan to walk and invite them to join you to train for as much or as little as they would like. It is a great way to stay in shape, socialize and simply get some fresh air. Who knows, they may discover it is not as hard as they thought and may decide to sign on for this year or next year.

Another “soft sell” idea is to talk to walkers already committed to the shorter MS Walks throughout the year. Many of these participants may be eager for a new challenge but not aware that they can chose to walk the full 50 miles or a shorter 30 mile route. You might be surprised who accepts the challenge!

- the Egans